By Ben Pangelinan
For Variety

ACCORDING to my handy pocket Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the word transparency means “clear enough to see through.” This is the new buzzword that our leaders use to proclaim to their constituency that everything they do is made public, just in case, inquiring minds want to know. There are laws in place that mandate us to make sure the public is aware of what we are doing. Sure, we let the public know, but typically it is after the fact OR it is such late notice that there is not enough time to really make any difference. This is not transparency.
Yesterday, the 29th Guam Legislature called its first session of the term to order. My office received official notice on Friday, March 16, at 4:35 p.m. It is true that the standing rules allow the Speaker to call session with just two hours notice. I know that this was supposed to be the exception and not meant to be the normal course of calling session. The call did not have an agenda for the session attached, so we have no idea what bills or resolutions are going to be discussed.
The standing rules of the Legislature also require that a session agenda shall be published in a periodical of mass distribution five days before the start of session. Anything less falls short of the transparency we all espouse. How can a senator be prepared to discuss important matters, when we have no idea what those matters are? How can the public voice their opinions and participate in the democratic process with their senators? We are supposed to make it easy for them, rather than have them stand guard. Lately, the public finds out what laws have been passed by what is published in the newspaper. This is not transparency. I know that to comply with all the rules in order to maximize transparency and public participation is tough and requires hard work. If that is what it takes, then that is what your public servants should give to you.
Say what you want about the Democrat-led 27th Guam Legislature, but we understood what transparency truly meant and practiced it. For every session, the Rules Committee would meet BEFORE session to set the agenda. This meant that both the majority and the minority would meet and decide on what bills would be discussed during session. The agenda would then be published and distributed BEFORE session so the public would be aware of what the Legislature would be debating on the floor. This gave the public ample notice. This is transparency.
Oversight hearings are another tool for the Guam Legislature to use for transparency into the various agencies. The Democrat-led 27th Guam Legislature conducted them often and there were many issues brought to the forefront. I recall that at those hearings, the public was welcomed to make brief comments, which empowered them to be part of the discussions. Sometimes legislation was introduced for change but more importantly, good working relationships between committee chairs and the agencies were developed. And the public was kept in the loop. This is transparency.
I have written a letter to Speaker Forbes to encourage the committee chairs to conduct hearings on the respective agencies for which they have oversight. It seems that roundtable discussions are preferred to oversight hearings, but I think the latter has much more substance and formality in the process. Plus you get the public involved.
Transparency sounds good in campaign slogans, but can only be effective when practiced. We did it in the Democrat-led 27th Guam Legislature and it meant commitment and hard work. Our leaders should not have a choice in what should be transparent or not. If we say this is important and use it in every media sound bite or news article, then let us practice what we preach.

Ben pangelinan is a senator in the 29th Guam Legislature and a former speaker now serving in his seventh term in the Guam Legislature.
E-mail comments or suggestions to senbenp@guam.net or ctzenben@ite.net.